TIMES were hard for many in Blackburn in the 1880s and the Ragged School was born out of a desire to help the poor.

Bygones has previously featured its work and its people; men including philanthropist James Dixon, who met with John Walkden in 1881 and founded the place which was to become a life line for many of the town’s paupers.

They rented premises in Lune Street and on the first Sunday evening, 198 children crowded into the schoolroom – mainly attracted by the offer of a free bun.

A man called Jesse Chilman was also involved from its inception, firstly as a teacher and choirmaster, before taking charge in 1903 and then becoming its first full-time missioner five years later.

He served the school faithfully for 60 years, only reluctantly retiring in 1941 at the age of 85.

His grand daughter, named after him, Jessie Hickmott, nee Devlin, still lives in Blackburn today.

The story she has to tell reveals the Christian charity that drove Jesse all his life and left its legacy in both her and her father.

For during the First World War, Jesse – who received 5,000 letters from young soldiers who had passed through the school, expressing their appreciation of Ragged School training – took teenager Peter Devlin as his son, when he was left orphaned.

After his dad was posted missing in action, his mother succumbed to serious illness — and his three brothers and sisters were taken in by aunts and uncles. Jesse, who had lost his only son Reginald, 21, in the war, was then a widower, so Peter went to live at his home in Rosebud Cottage, at the top of Dukes Brow.

When he was 26, Peter, also closely involved in the school from young age, married Bessie and the couple, who both worked in the mill, continued to live with Jesse, where they brought up their young daughter.

Jessie was six in 1941, when the man she always called her grandfather died, aged 88.

He was interred at Blackburn Cemetery, his coffin borne by eight boys from the Ragged School which was overflowing for his memorial service.

While he was superintendent at the Ragged School, Jesse helped establish Christian endeavour classes, two thrift clubs, an orchestra of 24, a lads’ club of 200, boy naturalists and girl guide troops, an official magazine, a free library with hundreds of books, a convalescent fund, a Sunday School and an annual trip for poor children, which, over the years, provided outings for 65,000 youngsters.

He was elected a trustee of the school in 1930 and in 1934 was presented to the Duke of Gloucester during a boys’ club engagement. He also served as president of Blackburn Sunday School Union.

On retirement, he was the last survivor of eight brothers and a sister and had made service his life’s motto.

When asked what memento of his service he would cherish most, he replied: “Letters received from old boys now settled in various parts of the empire, expressing appreciation of the school’s helpful influence.”

He added: “The Ragged School has been blessed with benefactors who have recognised its usefulness in building up Christian character and it is a source of pleasure to know as I lay down the reins of office that many of these good friends are still helping, despite the difficulties of the times.”

Peter Devlin was later involved with Feniscowles Emmanuel Church, running a youth club, boys clubs and football teams; he also ran Moor End youth Club and was connected with Accrington Stanley.